Relay, relay unit and electrical junction box

Abstract

A relay, a relay unit and an electrical junction box are disclosed as including a plurality of relays ( 2 A˜ 2 D), each of which includes a pair of switch connector circuit components ( 5 a ˜5 d , 6 a ˜6 d ) between which a relay switch (SW) is intervened, a pair of coil connector circuit components ( 7 a ˜7 d , 8 a ˜8 d ) between which a relay coil (L) is intervened, and a plurality of electrically conductive trimmer joint portions ( 9 a ˜9 j ) joined between the respective switch connector circuit components ( 5 a ˜5 d , 6 a ˜6 d ) and the respective coil connector circuit components ( 7 a ˜7 d , 8 a ˜8 d ) and able to be cut out at suitable cutting points to provide a desired mounting circuit profiled in a selected relay circuit pattern.

1. A relay comprising:
 a pair of switch connector circuit components between which a relay switch element is intervened; 
 a pair of coil connector circuit components between which a relay coil element is intervened; and 
 a fuse connector portion unitarily coupled with a fuse into a unitary structure to allow power supply current to be supplied to said switch connector circuit components and said coil connector components, wherein: 
 one of said switch connector circuit components has one terminal formed with said fuse connector portion to be connected to a downstream terminal of said fuse and another terminal, with said one terminal extending in a direction different from that in which said another terminal extends. 
 
   
   
     2. An electrical junction box comprising:
 a relay including a pair of switch connector circuit components between which a relay switch element is intervened and a pair of coil connector circuit components between which a relay coil element is intervened; 
 wherein said relay is unitarily coupled with a fuse via a fuse connector portion to provide a unitary structure; and 
 wherein said relay is received in said electrical junction box such that the relay is laid in a minimum projected area in a direction perpendicular to a mounting surface of said electrical junction box. 
 
   
   
     3. The electrical junction box according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 one of said pair of switch connector circuit components has one terminal of said fuse is coupled; and 
 further comprising: 
 a box body enclosing at least said relay and said fuse of which said downstream terminal is coupled to said fuse connector portion; 
 wherein said box body is formed with a relay compartment receiving said relay, and a fuse cavity receiving said fuse, the one terminal of said relay being inserted through said fuse cavity. 
 
   
   
     4. The electrical junction box according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said one of said pair of switch connector components has the other terminals, and the one terminal of said relay extends in a direction opposed to that of said other terminals to allow said box body to receive said fuse in a stacked state with said one terminal of said relay. 
 
   
   
     5. The electrical junction box according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said box body is formed with a connector joint portion allowing a connector of a wire harness to be connected to said other terminals of said relay. 
 
   
   
     6. The electrical junction box according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a lower cover to which said box body is mounted such that the connector joint portion is separated from a bottom wall of said lower cover by a given distance. 
 
   
   
     7. The electrical junction box according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said box body has another fuse cavity, formed between neighboring fuses connected to said relay to assume in the same plane as said relay, for receiving another fuse which is disconnected from said relay. 
 
   
   
     8. The electrical junction box according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one upstream terminal formed on said fuse; and 
 a bus bar providing electrical connection between said upstream terminal and a power supply section adapted to be externally supplied with electric power.